Perfect Responses to the Most Challenging Staging Questions

Calgary has so many excuses on why they should not invest in staging. Here how I answer the most common objections when it comes to staging.

The first and most commons objection is I can’t afford Staging. Often the seller does not look at the big picture if your house sits on the market longer then you had expected you still have mortgage payments, household expenses and property taxes. Staging will help buyer’s see past your life and connect with your property selling your home in less time. The investment in staging is much less then price reduction stats from RESA show that staged homes sell in 78% less time.

Lots of homes sell without staging. This is very true; but the market has changed a lot over the last few years. Buyers have more choices and have become picky, they want to move in on Monday and entertain on Friday. Television shows have made consumers savvy and the market more competitive. This makes first impressions the key to selling your home.

It was good enough for me why would it not be good enough for others. The market is full of new construction and existing homes which leaves the buyer with a lot more option. 90 % of buyers start their home search online. Buyers know what they want before they call a Realtor. Staging your home will ensure your home makes it to the want to see list.

My home looks nice,I spent a lot of time and money decorating it. Staging is not decorating, staging is making your home appeal to the masses, and decorating is about your personal taste. When you decide to sell your home you need to understand that your home is now a product on the market and your personal style may not appeal to everyone.

Other Home on the Block were not Staged. Do you know if they got what they were asking? Staging is proven marketing techniques that highlight the features of your home generating multiply offers. A few repairs and a little elbow grease will go a long way and will directly affect the selling price. Staged properties are perceived as well maintained buyers are less likely to chip away at your asking price.

If you have any question about staging or have a staging dilemma please email or call me I would love to help.

Elysse Bulloch

Home Office Staging Help

Downtown Calgary Office After Staging

One of the biggest questions I get form clients is what do I do with the home office when selling ?  The home office need to show clean and organized while maintaining a functional work environment while in transition. One of the first things on the to-do list is get rid of clutter, box up all old files, and clean out the bookshelves, drawers and file cabinets. Only work with what you need and get in the habit of filing it away at the end of the day.

 When you sell your house you need to show buyers how the space is used, this helps buyer to imagine living in your space. The office can be one space where buyers feel like they are being meddlesome in the seller’s life. Pack away all personal items like photography’s and diplomas these items tend to encourage buyers to look at your life instead of imagining living in the space.

Anyone that works from home has a bookshelf that is stuffed to the gills. Buyers see this as clutter. To fix this, stag the bookshelves half full, add plants and vases to give your bookshelf a splash of color submissively buyers will feel like this is a prolific work space.

Often the office has larger pieces of furniture which can make the space seem small. Filing cabinets take up lots of space; it is unlikely you will need all these files at one time.  Ask yourself if you can move the file cabinet to the basement or even store them off site but in a place where you can still easily access them. By removing bigger piece of furniture the office will showcase bigger and more productive.

Adding plants to the home office is a great inexpensive way to hide cords and plug ins. Cords look untidy and unorganized. Move your desk so it faces the wall so cords fall behind, out of sight out of mind.

Downtown Calgary Office Before Staging

Simply Stylish Staging

Elysse Bulloch

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To Stage or Not To Stage?

Image via Wikipedia

Many people in Calgary have never heard of home staging. This is surprising considering home staging is an industry standard in many larger cities across Canada. Here in Calgary it seems that only homes that are priced over the $800k are staged.

A friend of mine wrote a blog in October about Calgary luxury homes sales Crystal Tost Realtor with Re max says "We continue to see the luxury home market in Calgary spread it’s wings" This got me thinking why are luxury home sales on the rise in Calgary? Could it be that people in this price bracket understand the importance of how their home shows? Or do sellers understand at that price buyers are going to be picky? Or is it that a seller’s budget for staging is a part of their marketing?

 I can't say for sure why luxury homes sell, but I do know that the importance of how your home shows will help your property sell. I also know that when selling a Million dollar home most Realtors would suggest a stager be called. If even just to tweak the home using the current furniture and accessories. 

Single family homes sales are down 31% from last year according to The Calgary Real Estate Board  inventory levels are higher than last year. Buyers have become spoiled with all the choices. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most people will make in their lifetime, however, sellers need to understand that once you list your home it becomes a product on the market. Like any market, the home needs to appeal to the target audience.

 A home Staging professional can help you prepare your home for sale because Stagers understand what buyers expect. Many home owners that have lived in their home for years think if it was good enough for them, why wouldn’t it be good enough for everyone else. A common saying is “What is great for dwelling is not always great for the selling” These seller's often think if it’s not broke don't fix it, but this way of thinking does not appeal to the masses. Most buyers want to move in, sit down and are willing to pay a premium price to achieve this.

Staging may be an investment on the sellers side, but stats show that staged homes sell in 78% less time than homes that have not been staged. Kelley Skar  Realtor with Sutton group writes "the relatively small investment when considering the return, may be of huge benefit. You only have one chance to make a first impression think about staging before your list your home.

Staging Ideas For Small Spaces

Image by caribb via Flickr

If you have a small space in your home it can be a challenge to show its function and show its potential. Staging your small space can make huge impact on buyers here are some staging tips and tricks for small spaces.

• Small living room - to show off small spaces make sure to use smaller scale furniture or eliminate a few large pieces. Couches take up a lot of your square footage, try using the love seat instead. Use floating end table instead of a coffee table.
• Storage- Buyers need to see that you have lots of storage. Decorative box and baskets are great way to hide remotes, toys, magazines and  personal items. Buyers only know what they see, you need to show buyers how your space can be used.Storage ottoman and floating shelves are great way to show buyers you have lots of storage.
• Patterns - stick to solid neutral colors they help brighten your space. Patterns tend to be to busy and over powering. Use textures to add some interest .
• Paint- dark colors absorb the light  making  your space appear smaller. Pick a lighter color to expand your space
• Lighting- upward lighting creates an impression of more square footage.Trim back tree to allow lots of light to come through the windows,lighting can increase the illusion of space in a small spaces.

Staging can help sell your home quickly often for more then asking. If you have any question about Calgary Home Staging please feel free to contact Simply Stylish Staging


Elysse Bulloch

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Selling your Calgary Home With Small Children

  When it comes to selling your house it can pose quite a problem for young families. When you have small children your furniture placement is geared towards  keeping your kids safe. How do young families prepare their home for sale while maintaining kid friendliness and normalcy in their family lives. Here are a few things you can do ensure your home shows its true potential.                                                                     
                                                                                          

• Store toys in baskets and decorative boxes, keeping toys well organized will help show off your square footage. This way toys are still easy to get to but neatly stored away.
• In the living room you can use an ottoman that has storage in it, all the toy in the living room can be stored away neatly in the ottoman for showing but still very easy for kids to access.
• Place high chairs,bounce chairs and baby gates neatly in the garage for showings.
• Do not stuff items in the closet buyers always look in the closet but you can place them under the bed no one looks their.
• Use an extra bedroom to set up a play space
• Stuffed animals take up allot of space have your children pick a few of their favorite and store the rest in a hanging net.

It might be difficult to stag your home with small children, just remember your hard work will pay and you soon will be movign to your dream home.

Elysse Bulloch
Simply Stylish Staging

Things That Turn Calgary Home Buyers Off And Their Solutions

Image by thinkpanama via Flickr

Are you thinking about selling your Calgary home? Wondering where to start? Here are a few budget friendly ideas to help get your home sold.

We know that bathrooms sell houses .if you have a small bathroom, consider taking out your vanity and replace it with a pedestal sink. Buyers will love this modern take and it shows off your square footage.

Shower door get grimy and dell instead of spend a couple hundred dollars on replacing them get out your rubber gloves. Mix 1 part decaling liquid to 10 part water and scrub with steel wool .A little bit of elbow grease and your shower doors look new again.

When selling your house you need to make sure that each room is not to gender specific. Edit items that may be specific to one sex. Paint walls a neutral color and add accessories to match.

Update an old brick fireplace, if the bricks on the fireplace are overpowering an easy fix is to paint. Paint each brick with a rag or brush a coat at a time. Pick a color that matched the wall and your fireplace will tie in nicely instead of standing out.

Brass fireplace, an easy fix is to pick up some heat resistance paint, tape to protect from over spray, spray with steady strokes 18cm away from surface. In no time your fireplace will look modern.

Wood paneling is screaming Hello 1970. Pick up some wood filler fill the cracks between each panel after the wood fillers dries paint the room and we are back in 2010.

Fix all repairs one thing buyers do not want to see is work. Repairs left for the buyer to see mean low offers.

If you need help preparing your home for sale contact us for some free advice on home Staging.

Simply Stylish Staging

Elysse Bulloch

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